Full throw mechanism for stapling machines



Dec. 30, 1941. s R BY 2,267,719

FULL THROW MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1937 4Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Deg. 30, 1941. s. A. cRo-sBY FULL THROWMECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1957INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1941'. s. A. CROSBY FULL THROW MECHANISM FORSTAPLING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Filed Jan. 2, 1937 Dec. 30,1941. 5 CROSBY 2,267,719

FULL THROW MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2; 1937 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 C v v in. v:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FULL THROW MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINESStephen A. Crosby, New York, N. Y., assignor to Speed Products Company,New York, N. Y.

Application January 2, 1937, Serial No. 118,811

16 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) The present invention deals generally with Fig. 17is a fragmentary view of the forward stroke control devices andspecifically is conpart of the magazine showing the rail secured 1 cemedwith an improved full throw mechanism therein to form the longitudinalstaple strip for stapling machines and the objects, advanguide channeland the front vertical staple racetages, and functional and structuralfeatures way. thereof will be best understood from a consid- Figs. 18 to30 illustrate the stroke control deeration of the following detaileddescription taken vice which in operation precludes the admission in thelight of the accompanying drawings whereof a next successive staple ofthe staple strip in in: the vertical raceway when a staple therein hasFig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved not been previously ejectedby the driving blade stapling machine according to my invention. of theplunger and in particular Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating theFig. 18 is a longitudinal and fragmentary secstapling machine used as atacker. tional view of the pivoted arm showing the plung- Fig. 3 isanother perspective view of the staer partly depressed and theintervenorinterposed pling machine illustrating the swingable arm between thefixed mount and the inwardly overthereof partly open to permit readyinspection hanging stop lip of the reciprocably guided oi the staplestrip in the magazine. plunger.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the Fig. 19 is a view similarto Fig. I 8 wherein the stapling arm fully opened and the follower atplunger has been retracted before a full down the rear of the magazine-to permit loading of stroke thereof has been made and in suchrelastaples in the latter. tion the inner lip of the plunger is abuttingthe Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view in eleslidably guidedintervenor, thus preventing a full vation of the stapling machine onalarger scale. retraction of the plunger and thus precluding 'Fig. 5' isa transverse sectional view on the I the admission of a next successivestaple within line fl-t of Fig. 5.. 45 the front vertical raceway.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 0-6 of Fig. 20 shows the blade ofthe plunger fully Fig. 5 however with parts of the base omitted.depressed and the shiftable intervenor yieldingiy Fig. 'l is a brokenview in perspective of the disposed in a locked position. staplemagazine. Fig. 21 shows the blade of the plunger fully re- Fig. 8 is afragmentary view of Fig. 7, show- 30 tracted or returned and above thestaple raceway. ing a part of the pivoted latch associated with theintervenor'beingillustrated yieldingiy abutthe base of the staplingmachine removably but ting the stop lip of the plunger and ready to in-'slidably interlocked with the magazine. tervene just as soon as theplunger moves down- Fig. 9., is a vertical transverse sectional viewwardly, the stop lip being shown abutting the on the line 9-4 of Fig. 5.mount or the support for the intervenor.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view on the Fig. 22 is a side viewof Fig. 21 however with line llll of Fig. 5. a side wall of the sheaththereof removed for Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view on thepurposes of cleamess to show the normal posiline ll-il of Fig. 5. 4 tionof the intervenor at a time when the plunger Fig. 12 is a transversesectional view on the is fully up orretracted. line li-II of Fig. 5.Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the plunger Fig. 13 is an exploded viewin perspective of showing the inner stop lip and the rectangularly theswingable magazine, the rail, and the autosh uldered driving bladethereof.

matically controlled staple follower block. Fig. 24 is a perspectiveview of the channel Fig. 14 is a perspective exploded view of the shapedmount or support on which the float or cover or housing of the swingablearm. intervenor is slidably and pivotally sustained.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the front part of the Fig. is a fragmentaryside view of Fig. 22.

V staple magazine showing the staple ejecting gap showing the intervenorin a nonintervening poand the spaced extruded rail positioning and se- 5sition when the plungerv is inits fully up or norcu ing means. malposition.

Fig. 16 is an underneath view of the front Fig. 26 shows theintervenorwhen in an interpart of the rail showing lower perforated in-' veningposition when the plunger has been dewardly turned lugs adapted to bereceived and pressed slightly as in the case of Fig.1&. positioned bythe spaced upstanding pins shown Fi 7 sh ws he intervenor receding. beinin Fig. 15.

"", urged rearwardly by the inclined cam surfaces of the plunger on thedownward stroke thereof and about ready to fall into locking recesses inthe fixed mount.

Fig. 28 shows the position of the intervenor in its locking recess ofthe mount at the completion of the downward stroke ofthe plunger as inthe case of Fig. 20.

Fig. 29 shows the intervenor just about to be removed by the plungerfrom the locking recesses of the.mount at the close of the completion ofthe full return stroke.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the intervenor.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 3 |3| ofFig. 1.

Fig. 32 is a plan view of the rear end of the plunger raising springanchored to the rear end of the intervenor mount and Fig. 33 is a planview of the butterfly locking latch carried by the closure and utilizedto disconnectably interlock with the magazine.

Illustrative of the embodiment disclosed, the stapling machine generallydenoted |0, comprises, a base ||,and a pivoted arm l2 which includes; astaple magazine 3, a staplebarrying rail M, a staple follower IS, amagazine cover or closure IS in the form of a housing comprising a pairof overlapped channeled members l6 and I1, both of the latter being ofpleasing streamline appearance and may be considered for purposesofspeciflcation a fuselage or casing, a staple driving plunger generallydenoted l8, and the strok'e control device illustrated in Figs. 18 to 30inclusive.

Slidably mounted on base II is an anvil l9 embodying spaced clinchingindentations 20 for. temporary fastening of staples 2| of the staplestrip 22 and the elongated clinching indentation 23 for permanentanchoring of the staples.

The anvil I9 is provided with serrations 24 on its sides to facilitategripping thereof where it is desired to shift the same longitudinally ofthe base H for permanent or temporary fastening of the staples as iswell understood.

Fixedly anchored to the shiftable anvil is a channeled shaped flangedmember 25 (see Figs. and 5 comprising a boss 26 'slidably guided inelongated slot 21 of the base Boss 26 is provided with a downwardlyextending struck out medially arranged curved projection 28 whichcooperates with a companion curved stud or stop 29 secured at theforward end of a relatively'elongated flat spring 30 having itsintermediate part anchored by a rivet 3| secured to the base.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the staple clinching anvil is set against theforward transverse abutment end of slot 21 of the base. In suchrelation, elongated indentation 23 cooperates with the driving blade ofthe plunger to bend the legs of the staple for permanent fastening.Curved stud 29 however cooperates with projection .28 to lock the anvilagainst accidental slidable rearward displacement relative to slot 2'!of the base.

For temporary fastening of the staples, the anvil may be readilyslidably shifted rearwardly to place spaced indentations 20 in alinementwith the blade of the driver. In this connection the serrated sides ofthe anvil are grasped and urged rearwardly, thus snapping or ridingprojection 28 over the stop or stud 29 and the rear end of boss 26 abutsthe rear transverse end of slot 21.

' On this operation post 29 first moves downwardly thus flexing forepart of the flat spring 30 which in effect is a cantilever beam. .Afterprojection 28 has cleared the stud 29, the latter is automaticallyraised by the leaf spring 30 and now prevents accidental slidabledisplacement of the anvil towards the front of thebase. When the anvilis shifted the transverse ends of slot 21 cooperate with the transverseends of the boss 26 to automatically dispose either the temporaryclinching indentations or the permanent clinching indentation invertical alinement with the staple raceway of the swingable arm.

Seated on the rear end of flat spring is a pivoted or swingable latch 32(see Figs. 2, 5, 8 and 12). This latch comprises a depending lug 33pivotally arranged in slot 34 of the flat spring 30. Specificallyhowever latch 32 includes a downwardly inclined rearwardly disposedportion 33' seated on the rear terminal part of spring 30. Latch 32 alsocomprises a depending lug 34 having a finger engaging lip or manipulator35.

The latch 32 comprises a rearwardly inclined T shaped head 36 (Figs. 8and 12) defining lugs 31 and the reduced portion 38. The lower verticalpart of latch 32 is loosely disposed in the enlarged trapezoidalvertical opening 33 of the base H and its T shaped head 36 may beconveniently and removably arranged to interlock with the bottom wall ofthe magazine |3 which includes an enlarged opening 40 communicating withreduced slot 4| defined by spaced shoulders 42 in the bottom wall of themagazine.

As shown in Fig. 2, the base H is unlocked from the magazine |3 of thearm |2 which is swingably sustained by transverse fulcrum pin 43 carriedby the base. With the magazine free of latch 32, the intermediate partof the latter is substantially vertical and is disposed at the front jpart of opening 39 of the base since the rear part of the fiat leafspring 30 normally holds portion 33' against stop of the base.

When however arm I 2 is swung towards the base, the upper inclined Tshaped head 36 first enters enlarged opening and subsequently strikesshoulders 42 of the magazine, thus tiltably displacing or rocking thelatch against the energy of spring 30, hence causing the rear end of thelatter to flex. However as the reduced part of the T shaped head of the.latch 32 falls into reduced opening 4|, lugs 3'! interlock withshoulders 42 or in other words the T shaped head of latch 32disconnectably interlocks with the ma azine and isso held by theautomatic release of the spring 30. Therefore accidental separation ofthe magazine of the pivoted arm I2 and the base H is prevented. If thearm I2 is interlocked with latch 32 and plunger I8 is depressed,shoulders 42 of the bottom wall of the magazine abut shoulders 38 toactuate latch 32 downwardly and consequently the rear part of spring 30is flexed. Upon removal of manual pressure from the arm, the rear end ofspring 30 automatically raises shoulder 38 of the latch and the arm I2is restored to its normally raised position alglgough it is interlockedwith the head of latch To disconnect the magazine from the base, lip 35of latch 32 is pulled down against the energy of spring 30, causinglatch 32 to swing rearwardly thereof. Hence the head of the latch isremoved from restricted opening 4| and is freely disposed in the largeopening 40 from which it may be readily removed upon swinging thepivoted arm away from the base.

The magazine |3 may be considered as a box or a shoe having itslongitudinal channel facing upwardly. It is a one piece rectangularlyshaped member as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. Itincludes zine is a pair ofspaced upstanding posts (see Figs. 13, 15 and 17)- for a purposehereinafter described. Bottom wall 45 also includes a U shaped opening52 (see particularly Fig. 15) defining a transverse slot 53 and thecommunicating longitudinally disposed slots 54.

Appropriately positioned within the magazine is the U shaped staplesupporting rail H which includes spaced depending sides 56 havingdepending lugs 51 at the forward ends thereof (see Figs. 13 and 16) andthe inwardly turned flanges 58 each provided with an opening 59. Therail also comprises'the spaced but relatively large openings 60" at theforward portion thereof and the rearwardly disposed overhanging lug 6i.

Slidably mounted on the rail is the inverted U shaped follower block l5having its depending sides 63 slidably straddling the sides 56 of therail. The depending sides 63 of the follower or follower block l5 eachcomprise an inwardly turned lug 64 cooperating with lower parts of thesides 56 of the rail (see Fig. 12) to prevent removal of the followerfrom the rail after assembly. By this arrangement the follower block I5is interlocked with the rail l4 although movable longitudinally thereof.

In assembling, the follower I5 is first placed on the rail and thelatter is arranged within the staple box or magazine. In thisconnection, the rear lug 6| is first placed into the closely fittingelongated slot 5| in the rear wall of the magazine. Hence the rail ispositioned transversely and vertically in respect to the magazine. Thefront part of the rail is now dropped, causing openings 59 of theinwardly turned flanges 58 of the rail to receive the extrudedupstanding posts or pins 5! of the magazine. The rail is now properlypositioned longitudinally of the magazine. In such relation posts 5| arein vertical alinement with enlarged openings 60 of the upper horizontalwall of the rail and lugs 5'! of the sides 56 of the rail I4 are withinthe longitudinally disposed slots. 54 of the U shaped gap 52 andstraddle lip 66 (see Figs. 15, 16 and 1'7) of the bottom wall 45 of themagazine.

With the rear lug 6| of the rail arranged within slot 5| of the rearwall of the magazine,

. and extruded posts 5| of the magazine received -by holes 59 of flanges58, the rail is correctly and spatially positioned in respect to themagazinc. Since posts 5! project through flanges 58 they are accessiblethrough openings 60 of the rail. passed into these openings 60 forupsetting the upper ends of the posts, thus forming means to positivelyanchor the rail to the magazine. In such relation the forward transverseface 61 (see Fig. 17) of the rail is spaced from the rear transverseface 68 of the front wall 46 of the magazine forming a verticallydisposed transverse gap or staple raceway 69 for guiding a Thereafter asuitable tool (not shown) :'s

single staple 2| of the staple strip 22 downwardly to be ultimatel freeof the magazine. It should The swingable arm l2 for purposes ofspecification may be considered as comprising cornplementary componentscharacterized by the magazine [3 and the hollow cover l5. Thesecomponents have their rearears 49 and H (see Figs. 13 and 14) hingedly rpivotally supported on the transverse fulcrum pin 43 carried by the rearcurved perforated cars 12 of base I l. Ears 12 of the base straddleperforated cars 49 of the magazine and the latter straddles ears H ofthe stream lined fuselage or channel shaped member I6 of the closure15'. In the particular instance illustrated, it will be appreciated thatclosure I5 for the magazine may be swung relative to the magazine onfulcrum pin 43 and accordingly the swingable arm l2 may be opened asillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In such relation, all the staples withinthe magazine are accessible and may be readily observed. With thisadvantage, if the supply of staples within the magazine has becomeexhausted, a new staple strip may be readily supplied. If on the otherhand, a staple of the strip is' improperly deformed, it may be readilyremoved. If the staple raceway is clogged, the clogging staples can beeasily seen and removed even by the most unskilled operator. By thepresent arrangement, the source of trouble due to improper guiding ofstaples in the staple channel and raceway may be readily determined andeasily corrected. This is an important feature of the invention.

The swingable or hinged cover I5 is in effect a housing for concealingthe staples within the magazine. closure comprises the rearwardlydisposed U shaped member or fuselage l6 having its channel facingdownwardly while the sheath I! of the cover I5 is also a U shaped memberhaving is vertical channel facing rearwardly.

Channeled shaped member l6 embodies an upper pleasingly curved andgradually sloping wall 12 having depending sides 13 each provided with abayonet slot 14, a perforation 15, a compound or irregularly shapedelongated slot 16, an overhanging perforated lug 11 comprising a curvedstop 78. The bayonet slotsl4 of sides 13 are in "horizontal al nementand appropriately receive openings 88. the perforated depending ears 89,

and the upstanding lug 90.

With mount 82 arranged within channel shaped member or rear part l6 ofthe hinged magazine cover or closure l5, alined openings 88 thereof arein alinement and register with alined openings 15 in the depending-sides13 of fuselage or casing H; of the cover l5. Also alined openings 9| inthe ears 89 of the mount are in registration with alined open ngs 92 ofthe forwardly arranged stop lugs 11 of the fuselage or casing l8 and atthe proper time pins 93 and 94 are positioned in these alined openingsof the mount 82 and the casing I6 to fixedly anchor the mount in thelatter as is well understood.

When the mount 82 is anchored to channeled member or casin IS, theforward portions of the sides 84 thereof overhang the forward part Aspreviously stated this cover or of the channeled member I6 (see Fig.22). The sides 84 of the mount at the forward overhanging portion areslidably straddled by the spaced sides 95 of the U shaped plunger I8,that is, the sides 84 of the mount serve to vertically guide the plungerI8. Also the front transverse faces 98 (see Figs. 14 and 22 of theoverhanging stop lugs 'I'I of rear channeled member I6 together with therear transverse face 99 of the front wall 8| of sheath I 'I constitute atransverse vertical gap above but in alinement with the vertical stapleraceway 69 to closely but slidably guide the lower part of the stapledriving blade 96, thus preventing flexing of or distorting of thelatter.

According to the invention a stroke control device is provided for theplunger to prevent the latter from fully retracting unless the bladethereof has first concluded a complete down stroke. To this end,attention is directed to the fioat or intervenor I shown in perspectivein Fig. 30, in section in Figs. 18-21, and in side elevation in Figs. 25to 29. At this time attention is also directed to the inwardlyoverhanging projection IOI carried by plunger I8, the alined notches I02of the mount 82, and the alined notches I03 of the latter formed by thestepped transverse opening 81 therein (see Fig. 24). These alinednotches I02 and I03 in the sides of the mount 82 form spaced verticalshoulders I04 and I05 and define alined but spaced steps I06. Theintervenor I00, projection IOI of the plunger, the stepped transverseopening 81 of the mount and the helicoidal spring I01 which has its endsconnected to the lug 90 of the fixed mount 82 and to the upstanding tailI08 of the intervenor constitute the stroke control device.

As shown, the intervenor comprises an elongated rectangularly shapedbody having laterally extending lugs I09. Tail I08 extends upwardly andis slidably guided in rectangular opening 86 in the upper wall 83 of themount 82. a

In the normal or fully raised position of the plunger I8, lugs I09 ofthe intervenor slightly overhang and are seated on the alined steps I 08of the mount or support 82 and are spaced from vertical alined shouldersI04 which are flush with alined vertical faces IIO of the sides 95 ofthe plunger. Shoulders I04 and vertical faces IIO form stop means tolimit forward movement of the lugs I09 of the intervenor I 00 when theplunger is depressed.

When the-plunger is fully raised, projection IOI (see Fig. 21) isagainst the upper wall 83 of mount 82 and hence the plunger cannot befurther raised. This is the normal raised position of the plunger. Inthis relation intervenor I 00 is yieldingly abutting projection WI, andthe lugs I09 of the intervenor I00 although seated on steps I06, arespaced from stop shoulders I04 and H0 (see Figs. 11, 21, 22 and 25).

When, however the plunger is slightly depressed, the intervenor I00automatically slidably travels into the gap formed between upper wall 83of the mount 82 and projection IN 01' the plunger (see Fig. 18) due tothe action of the normally expanded spring I01. In this particularinstance, lugs I09 of the intervenor I00 abut alined shoulders or stopfaces I04 and H0 (see Fig. 26).

If before the completion of av full down stroke of the plunger, thelatter is retracted, intervenor I00, prevents full retraction thereof(see Fig. 19) that is, in this relation, the lower part of the stapledriving blade 96 serves as a closure preventing the next successivestaple of the staple strip to enter the vertical raceway. But where afull down stroke has been made a full return stroke thereof may beconsumated. In this connection, it will be observed that sides 95 of theplunger I8 are provided with alined inclined faces III for actuatinglugs I09 01 the intervenor which overhang the sides 84 of the mount 82,causing the intervenor to move bodily rearwardly or recede during thedescent of the plunger.

Towards the completion of the downward stroke of the plunger (see Figs.20 and 28) overhanging lugs I09 of the intervenor have been movedrearwardly and past the alined steps I08 of the mount and into alinedrecesses I03 thereof, thus yieldingly abutting vertical and alined stopfaces I05 of the sides of the mount and are thus held due to theexpansion of spring I01. Thus locked the forward end of the intervenoris out of the path of projection IOI (see Fig. 20).

In accordance with the invention the plunger is automatically raised orretracted after each complete down stroke thereof. For this purpose anelongated metal leaf spring H2 is utilized. This leaf spring I I2 hasits upper end abutting lugs I I3 struck out of the sides of plunger I8while its lower end is provided with a reduced portion II4 defining a Tshaped head II5 (see Fig. 32) comprising lugs II6 cooperating with endsII! of the sides 84 of the mount to prevent longitudinal displacement ofspring H2 in one direction while shoulders II8 cooperate with the rearvertical side of opening 85 in the mount to prevent longitudinaldisplacement of the spring I I2 in an opposite direction. By the presentarrangement it is apparent that the lower end of the spring isinterlocked with the mount and may be readily attached to ordisconnected therefrom if desired.

Referring back to the stroke control device, if the plunger I8 has madea complete downward stroke, the intervenor I00 is in a locked positionas shown. in Figs. 20 and 28. With manual pressure removed from theresilient head I20 attached to the plunger I 8, leaf spring II 2automatically raises the latter. Therefore towards the close of its upstroke shoulders I2I of sides of the plunger I8 strike the overhanginglugs I09 of the intervenor I00 lifting these lugs I09 out of the alinedtransverse recess I03 to clear alined steps I09 (see Fig. 29) but onlyafter projection IOI has about reached upper wall 83 of the mount. Whenhowever lugs I09 clear steps I06, spring I01 contracts, thus bodilymoving the intervenor I00 forwardly and the forward part thereofyieldingly abuts the back or rear wall I23 of projection IOI (see Fig.21) or in other words the lugs I09 of the intervenor are in the positionshown in Figs. 22 and 25, in the normal or fully raised position of theplunger.

Downward vertical displacement of the plunger I8 is limited by sheathII, that is, the elongated plate I26 fixedly attached to the top of theplunger I8 to which the recessed and grooved I resilient or rubber heador cushion I20 is disconnectably secured, strikes the upper part of thesheath or front part I! of the cover I5 (see Fig. 20) thus distributingand absorbing the force caused by such impact over a relatively widearea and in such relation reinforcing lugs 18 are slightly spacedfromthe curved notches I 25 in the sides of the plunger (see Figs. 20and 22).

It has been previously pointed out that the swingable cover or closure Itherefor.

lng rear lip I42.

relative to. the magazine.

arm II comprises a staple magazine I3 and a These parts may be quickly'swingably separated and may be readily closed. If in a closed relationand it is desired to swing the cover away from the magazine, a slidabllatch generally denoted I30 is first manipulated to unlock the coverfrom the magazine. a

This latch-I30 is slidably arranged in the upper part of the alinedopenings 16 in the spaced sides 130! the channel member or back part I6ofthe coverr Latch I3! is also slidably guided in the horizontally andtransversely alined slots I32 in the spaced sides 30 of sheath, I1.Slots I3I overlap the sides of the rear part I6 of the 1 cover I 5 andare in alinement with the elongated slots. I31 in thespaced sides 13thereof.

Asshown, the intermediate rear curved faces I33 of the spaced sides 80of thesheath H are complementary to the front but transverse cam facesI34 of the spacedwings of the magazine tended. This operation howevercauses the latch to become free of openings I35 of the wings 43 of themagazine and accordingly the cover may be swung away from the magazineand thus the staple arm is separated and full access is had to thestaple supporting rail. It should be observed however that after latchI30 has been unlocked from the magazine and finger pressure againstwings I3I is removed, spring I50 automatically retracts the latch I30.

With thecover I5 of the arm shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the latch andconsequently shoulders I45 of latch I30 abut I3. When the cover isclosed complementary faces I33 and I34 are disposed in close proximityand sides 80 of the sheath and flush with the spaced'wings of themagazine.

The curved cam faces I34 of wings 48 however include the transverselyalined horizontal gaps or slots I35 which are complementary to alinedgaps I32 of the sheath and these combine when the cover is closed toform elongated slots I35 in which the butterfly latch I30 is slidablyuided.

Slidably mounted within and supported by the lowerwalls of the reducedalined slots I31 in sides 13 of casing I6 is a transversely disposedshaft I30 supporting roller or wheel I30 which in part is received bythe central reentrant recess I40 in the body of the manipulatable latchI3I which includes the spaced notches I4I defin- The sides of recess I40are formed by the spaced lugs I43 integral with the body of latch I30and these lugs I43 are spaced from the forward portions of wings I3I toform spaccdnotches I44 (see Figs. 6 and 33).

Asshown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the cover I5 'is latched. or locked tothe notched wings 48 of the magazine I3.

' I30 may be considered retracted.

If the slidable "latch I 30- be interlocked with the magazine it isprevented from accidentally unlocking by the cocked helicoidal springI50 trained over the roller or pulley I39 and has one endretained by lugI5I struck out of a side I3 of the channeled member or casing I6 and hasits other end I52 anchored to the curved eye I53 struck out of thefollower block I5. If therefore the cover or closure I5 is latched tothe magazine'it isheld in such relation until latch I30 is grasped atthe manipulatable and overhanging wings I3I and slidably-moved towardsthe front of the machine, thus projections or lugs I43 of slidable latchI30 strike the ends of shaft I33 thus slidably and bodily moving thelatter in the alined' guide slots I5 in a similar direction. It followsthat the roller I39 is correspondingly displaced and the spring I50 isdis the rear vertical transverse faces I56 (see Figs. 6 and 14) of theopenings 16 in the sides 13 of the casing or fuselage I6 Thereforeshoulders I45 are in the path of the curved cam faces I34 of theupstanding wings 48 of the magazine when the cover I5 is swung to aclosing position and accordingly these cam faces I 34 constitute meansfor actuating latch I30 bodily forwardly until shoulders I45 of thelatch are in alinement. with notches I35 of wings 48. Thereupon springI50 automatically retracts latch I30 causing shoulders I45 to fall intonotches I35 and hence the latch I30 is interlocked with the wings 48 ata time when the cover is closed in respect to the magazine.

By the present arrangement, to open the cover, the operator simply moveslatch I30 forwardly out of wings 48 of the magazine and the coverisswung rearwardly on fulcrum pin 43. It

formed staples therein or the cover may be further swung away from themagazine as illustrated in Fig. 4 to permit loading of the latter atwhich time the resilient head or cushion I20 of the plunger I8 liesagainst a suitable supporting surface, such as, the top surface of adesk or the like. The spaced rubber feet I60 secured to base II alsocooperate to prevent scratching of the supporting surface. With thecover as shown in Fig. 4 it should be noted follower I5 is at the rearof the staple supporting rail I4 or at the end of its rearward stroke.In Fig. 3. follower I5 has not completed its rearward stroke.

Where the magazine is interlocked with the swingable latch 32 and thecover is swung rearwardly, lugs 31 of latch 32 cooperate with theshoulders 42 of the bottom wall 45 of the maga- I rear end of the leafspring 30. It follows that although the magazine is held in a desiredraised position by spring 30, the rail thereof is fully accessible topermit loading of stapics thereon as is evident upon inspection of Fig.4.

Toward the completion of the closing of the cover, wings 48automatically actuate the butterfly latch to bodily shift or slide thelatter forwardly until this latch reaches notches I35 of the wings andspring I50 retracts the latch I30, thus the latter disconnectablyinterlocks with the magazine, however, on the completion of the closingof the magazine by the cover the bottom peripheral face IBI of sheath I!is against and.

seated on the upper horizontal faces I62 of the magazine and lowermargins I53 of spaced sides 13 of the fuselaged channeled member or backof the cover I5 project downwardly beyond the sheath or front part I! ofthe cover I5 and are telescopically but removably received between .I2opened as 0 I30 is retracted that the staple sides 41 of the magazine l3(see Figs. 9 and 31) to aline the cover relative to the magazine, and ineffect, the upper peripheral faces I62 of the sides of the magazineserve as stop means to limit downward displacement of the cover and alsoserves to absorb and distribute the impact of the cover in closing butthe lower margin I63 is slightly above the staple strip 22 and hencecasing It serves to prevent upward displacement of the staples mountedon the staple supporting rail.

During closing of the cover l of the swingable arm l2, the action ofspring I50 causes the follower ii to slidably and automatically moveforwardly thus urging a forward staple 2| of the staple strip 22 to bedisposed within the vertical raceway 0! but Just below the squaredcorner Where one staple is in raceway 69, another staple of the staplestrip cannot be admitted due to the action of the stroke control devicewhich prevents complete retraction. or return of the the spacedfside'softhe fective raceway by utilizing a U shaped housing at thefront end of the machine having the inner face of the transverse wallthereof forming the front guide face of the plunger and the front wallof the raceway. But even in these types of con-' structions control inmanufacturein respect to dimensions of the raceway has been dimcult.

As previously pointed out, the raceway of the magazine of the presentconstruction is formed by a front transverse wall of a U shaped box orshoe drawn out in a single operation in sheet metal and by the fronttransverse wall of an inverted-U shapedrailwhile the longitudinalguidechannelfor the staple strip is formed by oftherail therein." Inthistyped! staple raceway is controll j by a singledimension which is the"distance betwe n the front trans-- verse face It or the shoe ormagazine: and the transverse-planeinterlecting the origins of. theextruded pins cr'rivdts li, that is, the distance a:

, shown in figsfiband i'lfljs'ince these pinscooperate-witnperforatiohstl'oflugs I of therail,

the latten is ice-axially with the magszine, that is, cooperation ofpins 58 with lugs ll of the raiLc ntrolsthe width of the.verticalracestaple driving blade whereby the lowerportion of I thelatter serves as a closure preventing the admission of a next successivestaple of the staple strip to enter the raceway 69 until driven staplewithin the raceway is ejected therefrom (see Fig. 19). At the completionof the full down stroke of the plunger squared projections 91 cooperatewith the corners of a staple in the raceway 69 and with the aid of theanvil the legs of the staple are deformed for clinching purposes as iswell understood. i

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the base of the machine has been disconnectedfrom the magazine. and swung approximately one hundrecl'and eightydegrees in respect to the arm. In such relation, the arm of the machineis utilized as a tacker since no clinching anvil is required. The basell however may be readily swung to be underneath. the arm as shown inFig. 1. During such operation the swingable latch 32 automaticallyinterlocks with the magazine which may be disconnected from latch 32 bymanually actuating manipulator 35 to free head 38 thereof and hence thearm I2 may be swung away from the base.

Comparing the present embodiment with stapling machines of the priorart, it is important to note that with prior art stapling machines thelatter possessed an inherent functional and structural defect in thematter of the arrangement of the several members defining the walls ofthe front vertical staple raceway, which defect caused in actualpractice, large variations in size or control of dimensions of theraceway. With the prior art machines, the dimensions of the raceway weredifficult to control due to the springing and yielding of the parts ofthe raceway under load. Broadly speaking many parts haying numerouscontrolling dimensions were fabricated and assembled to form the stapleraceway walls and in the manufacture, the difificulties arising inmaintaining the accuracy of the numerous controlling dimensions of theseveral parts resulted in the practical impossibility way II.fwhentherefore pins 6| have beenpreviously disposed in companionopenings ,0, the rail is correctly; positioned both longitudinally,transversely'and vertically'in respect to the magazine even though'onlyone dimension is controlled, namely, the distance :0.

Hitherto the stapling machines of .the prior art so far as I am awarewere socalled front or r earstaple, loaders. In these typesif the staplestrip was locked in the longitudinal staple I channel .it was at timesimpossible to'remove the locked staples without knocking down themachine. Usually an inexperienced oflice operator has not sufficientskill to disassemble the machine toremove thew'edged or locked staplesin the staple strip channel. 'Hence the machine I was sent to thefactory-to be knocked down to this difficulty whereby even an unskilledoperators,

may readily determine where the locked or wedged staples in the magazineare by simply unlocking and swinging the cover away from the magazine.Thus having full access to the staple strip, the troublesome or wedgedstaple maybe quickly removed by a finger nail file or the like, that is,according to the present invention, the swingable arm of the staplingmachine is split to provide a staple magazine and cover therefor wherebythese members may be separated to permit convenient loading of themagazine or" to determine where any wedged staples may be pres; ent forready removal thereof since access may be conveniently had to thevertical raceway and the entire staple strip, see for example, Figs. 3and 4.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a staplefollower which is interlocked with the rail and thus cannot afterassembly be damaged by the user due to accidental removal therefrom.Further advantages are the novel butterfly latch for properly aliningand locking the cover with the magazine, the' provision of a cockedspring I50 which has many important to provide in stapling machines ofthe prior art a more efmagazine and the sides.

cements-an. the width of the 2 With the cover I open, the follower is atthe.

rear of the rail. When closed, cocked spring I50 imparts pressure to thestaple strip to permit the foremost staple thereof to be in the verticalraceway In closing of the cover, however, pres-. sure is applied byspring I50 gradually and progressively to the follower to prevent anappreciable or abrupt impact against the staple strip which otherwisecauses involuntary telescoping of the staple strip as is well apparent.

Furthermore it will be appreciated that on the downward stroke of theplunger the impact thereof is transmitted by its elongated upper plateor bar Ill to the upper rim of sheath l I (see Fig. and through thelatter vertically to the magazine, and to the anvil, however, withoutaffecting or varying the size, or transverse and longitudinal dimensionof the vertical staple raceway or the staple strip channel and as shown,the former, that is, the raceway being slighty longer than the height ofa staple.

The claims in this application are limited to the stroke control deviceper se and it should be noted that applicant in his copendingapplication, S. N. 146,708, filed June 7, 1937, has claims covering thestapling machine disclosed herein apart from the stroke control device.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction andarrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the inventionor sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein.

I claim:

1. A stroke control device supporting a plunger having a projection, asupport having an opening defining ained steps, an intervenor movablyguided on said support, and a spring normally urging said intervenorforwardly, said intervenor pose said overhanging means in a lockedrelation in respect to said support whereby said forward part is out of'the path of said projection on retraction of said plunger.

2. A stroke control device, comprising a reciprocab'e plunger having aprojection, a support having a stepped transversely disposed opening, anintervenor having laterally disposed means overhanging the sides of saidsupport, and spring means cooperating with said intervenor to hold saidlaterallydisposed means at the upper portion of said opening and theforward end of said intervenor against said projection in the normalraised position of said plunger, said intervenor adapted to be disposedbetween said projection and support on initial downward displacement ofsaid plunger, said plunger having means cooperating with said laterallydisposed means to bodiy move said intervenor rearwardly to arrange saidlaterally disposed means in a lower portion of said stepped opening towidely space said intervenor from said projection at the com-' pletionof a full down stroke of'said plrngerto permit full retraction of thelatter.

3. A stroke control device comprising a reciprocable plunger having aprojection, a support having a stepped transversely disposed opening, anintervenor having laterally disposed means overhanging the sides of saidsupport, and spring means cooperating with said'intervenor to hold saidlaterally disposed means at the upper portion of said opening and thefront end of said intervenor yieldingly against said projection in thenormal raised position of said plunger, said intervenor adapted tobedisposed between said projection and support upon initial downwarddisplacement of said plunger, said plunger having means cooperating withsaid laterally disposed means to bodily move said intervenor rearwardlyand arrange said laterally disposed means in a lower portion of saidstepped opening to widely space said intervenor from said projection atthe completion of a full down stroke of said plunger to permit fullretraction thereof, said plunger having means to raise said laterallydisposed means out of the lower portion of said shoulder means, anintervenor having projecting ment means, said plunger having meansduringfurther downward displacement thereof for actuating saidprojecting means to displace said intervenor rearwardly and from saidshoulder means and dispose said projecting means below said shouldermeans and adjacent said lower abutment means.

5. A stroke control device comprising a reciprocable plunger having aprojection, a member having upper and lower abutment means and shouldermeans, anintervenor having projecting means movably seated on saidshoulder means, and spring means for holding said projecting means inclose proximity to said upper abutment means and the forward portion ofsaid intervenor against said projection in the normally raised positionof'said plunger, said spring mean urging said forward portion forwardlyand between said member and projection during initial downwarddisplacement of said plunger whereby said projecting means strikes saidupper abutment means. said plunger having means during further downwarddisplacement thereof for actuating said projecting means to displacesaid intervenor rearwardly and in a direction away from said shouldermeans and dispose said projecting means below said shoulder means andadjacent said lower abutment means, said spring means cooperating tohold said projecting means against said l ower abutment means at whichtime said forward portion of said intervenor is held in a spacedrelation in respect to said projection on upward displacement of saidplunger.

6. A stroke control device comprising a reciprocable plunger having aprojection, a member having upper and lower abutment means and shouldermeans, an intervenor having projecting means movably seated on saidshoulder means, and spring means for holding said projecting means inclose proximity to said upper abutment means and the forward portion ofsaid intervenor against said projection in the normally raisedpositionof said plunger, said spring means urging said forward portionforwardly and between said member and projection during initial downwarddisplacement of said plunger whereby said projecting means strikes saidupper abutment means, said plunger having means during further downwarddisplacement thereof for actuating said projecting means todispl-acesaid intervenor rearwardly and in a direction away from said.

shoulder means and dispose said projecting means below said shouldermeans and adjacent said lower abutment means, said spring meanscooperating to hold said projecting means against said lower abutmentmeans at which time said forward portion of said intervenor is held in aspaced relation in respect to said projection on upward displacement ofsaid plunger, said plunger having means operative towards the completionof the upward displacement of said plunger for actuating saidprojectingmeans to elevate the latter to said shoulder means at whichtime said projection is disposed forwardly of said intervenor and saidspring means yieldingly holds the 1 latter against said projection.

7. A stroke control device comprising, a reciprocable plunger havingajprojection, a member having upper and lower abutment means andshoulder means, an intervenor having projecting means movably seated onsaid shoulder means, spring means for holding said projecting means inclose proximity to said upper abutment means and the forward portion ofsaid intervenor rearwardly of and against said projection in thenordownward displacement of said plunger to prevent complete retractionof said plungerzprior to a complete down stroke of the latter, saidplunger having means cooperating with said laterally disposed means tobodily move'said intervenor rearwardly to arrange said laterallydisposed means oiT said stepped portion to widely space said front endfrom said projection at the completion of ,a full down stroke of saidplunger to permit full re-' traction of the latter,

' 9. A stroke control device comprising areciprocable plunger having aprojection, a member having a stepped portion, a movable intervenor,

and spring means cooperating with said intervenor V to hold the forwardpart thereof on said stepped portion but yieldingly at the rear. of andagainst said projection in the normal raised position of said plunger,said spring means acting on said intervenor to dispose said forward partbetween said projection and member upon initial downward displacement ofsaid plunger to prevent complete retraction of said plunger prior to acomplete down stroke of said plunger, said intervenor having laterallydisposed means overhanging the sides of said member, said plungerhavmally, raised position of said plunger, said spring meansurging saidforward portion forwardly and, between said member and projection duringinitial downward displacement of said plunger whereby said projectingmeans strikes said upper abutment means, said plunger having meansduring further downward displacement thereof for actuating saidprojecting means to displace said intervenor rearwardly and in adirection away from said shoulder means and dispose said projectingmeans below said shoulder means and adjacent said lower abutment means,said spring means cooperating to hold said projecting means against saidlower abutment means at which time said forward portion of saidintervenor is held in a spaced relation in respect to said projection onupward displacement of said plunger, said plunger having means operativetowards the completion of the upward displacement of said plunger foractuating said projecting means to elevate the latter to said shouldermeans at which time said projection is disposed forwardly of saidintervenor and said spring means yieldingly holds the latter againstsaid projection, saidmember having means to limit upward displacement ofsaid intervenor at the completion of the upward displacement of saidplunger and said projecting means constituting means to limit upwarddisplacement of said plunger.

8. A stroke control device comprising a refill ing cam means cooperatingwith'said laterally disposed means to bodily move said intervenorrearwardly to arrange said laterally disposed means on said steppedportion to widely space said forward part away from said projection atthe completion of the full down stroke of said plunger to permit fullretraction of the latter and permit said projection to be disposed inadvance of said intervenor, said plunger having means operative towardsthe completion of the return stroke thereof to actuate said laterallydisposed means to raise the latter on said stepped portion at which timesaid spring means yieldingly holds said forward part in back of butagainst said pro- 4 jection.

10. A stroke control device comprising a reciprocable plunger having aprojection, a member having a stepped portion, a movable intervenor,

and spring means cooperating with said intervenor to hold the forwardpart thereof on said stepped portion but yieldingly against saidprojection in the normal raised position of said plunger, said springmeans acting on said intervenor to dispose said forward part of thelatter between said projection and member upon initial downwarddisplacement of said plunger to prevent complete retraction thereofprior to a complete down stroke of the latter, said intervenor havinglaterally disposed means overhanging the sidesof said member, saidplunger having inclined cam means cooperating with said laterallydisposed means to bodily move said intervenor rearwardly to arrange saidlaterally disposed means ofi. said stepped portion to widely spacesaidintervenor away from said projection at the completion of a fulldown stroke of said plunger to permit full retraction of the latter andpermit said projection to be disposed in advance of said forward part,said plunger having shoulder means operative towards the completion ofthe return stroke thereof to actuate said laterally disposed means toraise the latter on said stepped portion at which time said spring meansyielding holds said forward part in back of but against said projection.

11. A stroke control device comprising a slidable plunger having a walland spaced sides, a projection carried by said wall, said sides havingalined shoulders, alined rectilinear portions, and alined cam portions,amount straddled by said sides and including alined steps, an intervenormovably mounted on said mount and comprising laterally disposed meansnormally seated on said alined steps and actuated by said cam portionsto be removed from said steps, and spring means to hold the forward partof said intervenor at the rear of and against said projection in thefully raised position of said plunger and said laterally disposed meansspaced from said rectilinear portions, and said shoulders constitutingmeans for elevating said laterally disposed means on retraction of saidplunger.

12. A stroke control device comprising a slidable plunger .having a walland spaced sides, a projection carried by said wall, said sides havingalined shoulders, alined rectilinear portions, and alined inclinedportions, a mount straddled by said sides and including alined steps, anintervenor movably mounted on said mount and comprising laterallydisposed means normally seated on said alined steps and actuated by saidinclined portions to be removed from'said steps spring means to hold theforward part of said intervenor at the rear of and against saidprojection in the fully raised position of said plunger and saidlaterally disposed means slightly spaced from said rectilinear portions,said spring means on initial downward displacement of said plungershifting said intervenor forwardly to permit the forward portion of thelatter to be interposed between said projection and mount to preventcomplete retraction of said plunger when the latter has been retractedprior to a complete downward stroke, and said shoulders constitutingmeans for elevating said laterally disposed means on retraction of saidplunger.

13. A stroke control device comprising a slidable plunger having a walland spaced sides, a projection carried by said wall, said sides havingalined rectilinear portions, and alined cam portions, a mount straddledby said sides and including alined steps, an intervenor movably mountedon said mount and comprising laterally disposed means normally seated onsaid alined steps and actuated by said cam portions, and spring means tohold the forward part of said intervenor at the rear of and against saidprojection in the fully raised position of said plunger and saidlaterally disposed means adjacent said rectilinear portions, said springmeans on initial downward displacement of said plunger shifting saidintervenor forwardly to permit the forward portion of the latter to beinterposed between said projection and mount to prevent completeretraction of said plunger when the latter has been retracted prior to acomplete downward stroke, said cam portions on downward movement of saidplunger pursuant .to said initial downward movement of the lattercooperating with said laterally disposed means to shift the latter fromsaid steps to rearwardly displace and spatially arrange the forward partof said intervenor from said plunger.

14. The stroke control device according to claim 13 wherein said mountincludes means for holding said laterally disposed means when removedfrom said steps locked against forward displacement on completion of thedownward stroke of said plunger and during incomplete retraction or saidplunger,

15. 'The stroke control device according to claim 13 wherein said mountincludes means for holding said laterally disposed means when removedfrom said steps locked against forward displacement on completion of thedownward stroke of said plunger and during incomplete retraction of saidplunger and the latter having shoulders constituting means to unlocksaid laterally disposed means towards the completion of the retractionof said plunger for automatically raising said

